Ray and Libby Jones receive university’s first Shining Light Award
Kim Chaudoin |
From left to right: Matt Paden, executive vice president; Libby and Ray Jones; and President Candice McQueen, during the Shining Light Award presentation in Huntsville.
Longtime Lipscomb friends and supporters Ray and Libby Jones have been recognized for their service to Lipscomb and to their community with the university’s first Shining Light Award.
“The Joneses' vision and gifts have already impacted countless numbers of students. The legacy they started with their own children now has influence on generations of other people’s children at Lipscomb,” said President Candice McQueen in her comments in Huntsville.
The Joneses were recognized with a special presentation during the Be A Light tour stop at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Thursday, Jan. 20. Ray Jones served on the Lipscomb Board of Trustees from 1983-2007. The Joneses led the charge in 2002 to first establish a school of engineering that grew into a college at Lipscomb that bears his name. Today the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering now offers ABET-accredited degrees in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. It is a growing and vibrant program with 220 students in the program this year.
“One of the themes of Dr. McQueen’s presidency so far centers around the idea of being a light, and she has challenged faculty, staff and students to be a light to those around us,” said Matt Paden, executive vice president, as he presented the award to the Joneses. “Ray and Libby Jones have been a light in the Huntsville community throughout their entire lives. They have been a blessing to countless individuals not only in this city, but also at Lipscomb and it is in recognition of that blessing that we want to honor them this evening.”
“Ray and Libby Jones have always been strong believers in the importance of faith-based education, and they saw Lipscomb as a trusted partner in providing that education,” he continued.
Just as faith has been an integral part of every aspect of their lives, the Joneses have had a particular passion for the integration of faith into engineering education. As such, they have been strong supporters of Lipscomb’s Peugeot Center for Engineering Service and have continued to support that work year after year. They have been excited to see Lipscomb engineering students serving others with their engineering talents in Central America, in Africa, and throughout the United States. Today, hundreds of Lipscomb Engineering graduates are not only delivering excellence in their work for organizations like Lockheed, Boeing, Jacobs, SpaceX and others, they are carrying with them a passion for serving others across God's kingdom based on the Joneses' vision and generosity.
“Their light has inspired others to be a light,” said Paden.
In addition to their service to Lipscomb, the Joneses have served their community and state through service in numerous boards and ministries and have ministered to others through Mayfair church of Christ in Huntsville.
The Jones’ daughter, Lisa, attended Lipscomb University to pursue engineering studies and it was here that she met her future husband, Mark Yokley, who served as a member of Lipscomb’s Board of Trustees from 2007-2019.
At each Be A Light tour stop, Lipscomb will select a recipient of the Shining Light Award to recognize someone whose life — and light — shines brightly in the community and in their service to others. The Shining Light Award recipients are selected by a committee that includes McQueen and other Lipscomb leadership. The committee has a stated goal to elevate and honor the many people in the Lipscomb community living across the country who exemplify lives of service, character and living their faith in action.
The Be A Light Tour continued on Feb. 15 in Memphis, Tennessee, and continues in Austin, Texas on Feb. 26.